Before Drew: Reynolds Family, #3

By Kali Hart

Lacy

I don't need a man to complicate my already busy life.
I work nonstop to take care of my mom and her mounting medical bills.
When a friend asks me to fill in for her office cleaning job, I do. The money's too good to pass up.
But she forgot to warn me that the sexy-as-sin boss lives there, too.
He's every bit the temptation I don't need.

Drew

I've dedicated my life to the company I built from the ground up.
There's never been time for anything else.
It's why I spend more nights in my office penthouse than my actual home.
But Lacy caught me by surprise.
Now I can't think of anything else.
She's fighting to keep her walls fortified, but I will break through them.

Sweet & steamy short story instalove romance with an alpha man and younger curvy woman with an HEA. NO cliffhangers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Nov 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9798223021377

Book preview

1

LACY

I’d be so much cooler if I was a real-life spy.

That’s the thought swirling inside my tired brain as I spin in a full circle on the cushiest, fanciest office chair I’ve ever encountered. Desk to my back and windows stretched before me, I have a spectacular view of the cityscape at night from the ninth floor.

I need sleep, I mutter. Too many jobs. Too much homework. My brain can’t focus. It’s the only explanation for the spy fantasy that plays in my head. All I’m missing is the flash drive I need to steal all this company’s secrets.

A delirious, tired laugh escapes as I spin back around and stare blankly at the flickering candle I’ve lit. It’s supposed to emit an essence of energy, but I don’t think it’s working. Not if my uncontrollable yawning is any indication.

I scan the cleaning list my best friend Ellie gave me before she left town for the week. It’s her cleaning service that normally takes care of Reynolds Inc, but she’s always cleaned Mr. Reynolds office personally. For one week, she asked me to cover so she can take a much-needed vacation with her hunky boyfriend.

I move on to the next task on the list—wipe down all light switches, door knobs, and hard surfaces with a damp rag and disinfectant.

Though I have a research paper to finish writing, two authors with new releases tomorrow that need to me to set up everything online, and three doctor’s appointments to get my mom to this week, the stack of medical bills on our kitchen counter doesn’t care. It’s the reason I jumped at the night job for the week that’ll add two-hundred and fifty dollars to our bottom line.

I set my personal laptop in the leather office chair. I still have a few social media posts to schedule for one of the authors I assist. But it’ll have to wait until I wipe down the desk. I reach for the cleaning list with the intention of checking it again, but a framed picture steals my attention.

There’s two men and two women—siblings if I had to guess as there’s a lack of intimacy that suggests couples—but it’s one man in particular that has me in a trance. He’s the tallest of the group, hair the darkest. His smile is captivating. I’d bet my week’s pay that he could charm an entire room with that smile alone.

Those blue eyes penetrate me, and I suddenly feel naked. A flash of him behind me as I bend over this desk teases my deliriously tired imagination. I toy with the idea of slipping my hand down the front of my leggings to touch myself. I’d be your secretary any day, I say to the photo.

Smoke. I smell smoke.

I let out a squeal when I see the flames. In the midst of my drooling over the photo, I’ve lit my cleaning list on fire. Don’t panic! Don’t panic! I’m pacing, searching for any source of water. But the paper is turning to ash in my hands. The flame licks closer to my fingers.

I drop the burning remnant into the trash can.

Flames erupt. I scream.

A door bursts open.